Message transmitting projecting system



3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Feb. 28, 1939. A. D. EITZEN MESSAGE TRANSMITTING PROJECTING SYSTEM- Original Filed Aug. 28, 1953 Nh u V nu QM. mfi hm. R m v m a, m. w m am. Q N W a v N \k w A N :5 RN mu KQXUQ QK I M Q A n w Wm 9 A. v r v v v a. k w v N Q N. \N rllilv A. D. EITZEN Feb. 28, 1939.

MESSAGE TRANSMIT TING PROJECTING SYSTEM 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Original Filed Aug. 28

INVENTOR Azgast QEit'am,

ATTORNEY Feb. 28, 1939. E|TZEN 2,148,450

MESSAGE TRANSMITTING PROJECTING SYSTEM Original Filed Aug. 28, 1935 5 Shets-Sheqt 3 /vwrwwy ATTORNEY Patented Feb. 1939 v UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE,

August 1). Eitzen, Rockville Centre, N. Y., assignor to News Projection Corporation, New York, N. Y., a corporation of New York Reiiled for abandoned application Serial No. 687,031, August 28, 193?. This application May 20,1938, Serial No. 209,041

d Claims. (Cl. 177-350) This application is a reiile of abandoned appli-j cation 687,031, filed Aug. 28, 1933. This invention relates to message transmitting projecting systems in general and more especially to systems for transmitting printed messages by projection or the like and to the devices associated with such systems.

Among the objects of the present invention, it is aimed to'transmit a printed rnessage'by a projectorinciuding an illuminated sign controlled by a projector associated with a printed tape.

It is still another object of the present invention to provide an improved illuminated sign associated with a light sensitive control device.

It is still another object of the present inven tion to provide an improved illuminated sign controlled by a light sensitive device in turn controlled by the light'rays interrupted by the printed characters 'on a transparent or translucent tape.

It is still further an object of the present invention to provide an improved combination including a telegraphic printer printing tape by which messagesare printed on a translucent or transparent ribbon tape, alight sensitive device, a projector for transmitting light rays through the tape unobstructed by printed characters, and an illuminated sign controlled by said light sensitive device to form an illuminated message corresponding to the printed message on the tape.

These and other features, capabilities and advantages of the invention will appear from the subjoined detail description of one specificiembodiment thereoi illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which Figure 1 is a wiring diagram associated with a telegraphic printer,a projector, a tape puller and a light sensitive device made according to the 3 present invention;

Fig. 2 is a wiring diagram of the photo-electric cell and light bulb constituting one unit of a part of the present invention;

Fig. 3 is a diagram of a bank of lamp bulbs and a bank of photo-electric cells and their connecting wires;

, Fig. 4 is a diagrammatic end elevation of the bank of lamp bulbs and bank of photo-electric cells shown in Fig. 3 in association withan optical system; v

' Fig. 5 is an end elevation of the illuminated sign mounted on the top of a. building in relation to a boat and an aeroplane remotely disposed therefrom; and Pig. 6 is a diagram showing a plurality of signs pulling-roller 9.

at difierent receiving stations associated with a single transmitting station.

In the embodiment shown, there is illustrated a' telegraphic printer I constitutinga part of a receiving stationconnected to a transmitting station bythe usual main leads 2 and 3. The printer is of the type extensively used for printing characters on narrow tape, such as the ribbon tape 4.

-With stock quotation projecting machines, there are as a rule two rows of printed matter formed to read longitudinally of the tape 4. With the invention isillustrated as associated with a printer which prints a single row of longitudinally lreadable printed matter.

, -flhe tape 4 in the present instance, passes under the roller or finger 5 of a lever 6 associated withan electric switch mounted in the housing I extending from the extension 8. The extension 8 is provided with a vertically extending light aperture through which the tap 4 passes to the tape 'Ihe'tape pulling roller 9 in the present in stance is connected by a suitable reduction gearing with the shaft l0 provided with a gear or sheave connected by the belt or sprocket chain I II with a gear or sheave mounted on the shaft I 2 'of the motor l3.

The shaft I4 on which the tape pulling roller 9 is mounted is further provided with a sheave which is connected by the belt IS with the sheave it of a rewind reel 11, the tape 4 in the present instance maintained in frictional driving engagement with the tape puller 9 by the spring pressed idler It. From the tape puller 9, the tape 4 passes up to the rewind reel l1.

The extension 8 is formed in the lamp housing I9 in which the lamp 20 is mounted which directs the light rays through the tape 4 preferably composed of some suitable translucent or transparent material, such as glassine paper or Cellophane and from there passes to the objective lens unit mounted in the casing 2| From the objective lens unit mounted in the casing 2 l, the light rays about five inches, the light aperture will obviously be about three-eighths of'an inch in width by five inches in length or in the proportions of three to forty.

With a light aperture of this size, if the bank of photo-electric cells has nine cells as indicated in Fig. 3, transverse of the same here should be about one hundred and twenty -.ells to the length, that is in the proportions of three to forty. There are of course photo-electric cells of various dimensi'ons in use today.

Excellent results have been obtained when the photo-electric cells are about two and one-half inches in diameter. For each light sensitive device or bank of photo-electric cells, there is provided an illuminated sign of transmitted light consisting of a plurality of electric lamp bulbs 24 in the present instance mounted in the casing 25. In accordance with the present instance, there preferably is one electric light bulb for each photo-electric cell. In other words, for the bank of photo-electric cells illustrated in Fig. 3, there should be one or more banks of electric light bulbs each having nine electric light bulbs extending transversely of the housing 25 and one hundred and twenty light bulbs extending longitudinally of the same.

The transmitting system associated with the leads 2 and 3 may of course be remotely disposed relative to the receiving stations. At the receiving stations, the telegraphic printer I and a bank of photo-electric cells 22 may be located inside of a building, such as the building 26 illustrated in Fig. 5 and the casing 25 for the illuminated sign on the top of the building.

In the present instance for controlling the lamp 20 or the projector, the motor l8 and the electric circuit for the lamp bulbs 24, the wiring system now to be described is provided as illustrating one method of electrically connecting these several parts.

The telegraphic printer I is provided with two main leads 21 and 28, the lead 21 being connected to the outlet plug 29, and the lead 28 connected to the winding of the magnet 30 which in turn is connected by the lead 3| with the outlet plug 28. This outlet plug is connected to a source of current supply by the attendant at the particular receiving station when it is desired to pick up messages transmitted by the transmitting station over the leads 2 and 3.

The magnet 30 in the present instance is mounted upon a bracket 33 having an upright 34 to which is pivotally connected the lever'35, the short arm of which is connected by the spring 36 with the abutment 31 and the long arm of which is connected by the link 38 with the arm 38 pivotally connected to the abutment 40. The arm 38 has preferably mounted thereon a iluid mercury container 4| provided with two contacts to constitute a switch, one of which contacts is connected to the lead 42 and the other to the lead 43.

The bracket 33 preferably is also provided with a second upright 44 having a stop projection at its upper end to limit the upward movement of the long arm of the lever 35. The lead 43 is preferably connected to the outlet plug 45 and the lead 42 to the lamp 20. The other lead for the lamp 20, being the lead 46 is also connected to the outlet plug 45.

By means of the wiring so far described, it will be obvious that the printer I will be ready to be operated when the outlet plug 29 is connected to a source of supply and the lamp 20 will be ready 'switch contained in the housing I, to close the 2 bracket 58 on which the core 58 of a magnet is to be illuminated when the plug 45 is connected to a source of electric supply.

It will also appear that when a message is transmitted over the wires 2, 3 to the printer I, the printer will in turn close the circuit for the magnet 30 as shown for instance in Fig. 1 of my Patent No. 1,908,333 issued May 9, 1933, thereby to attract the long arm of the lever 35 constituting an armature against the tension of the spring 38 in turn to rock the switch 4| into circuit mak- 1 ing position in which the circuit for the lamp 20 will be closed to illuminate the lamp 20. The motor I3 is connected as illustrated by one lead 41 with the outlet plug 48 and by another lead 48 with one of the contacts of the switch con- 1 tained in the housing 1. The other contact'of the switch contained in the housing is connected by the lead 50 with the outlet plug 48.

From the foregoing, it will then follow that when a .message is transmitted to actuate the 2 printer I, it will not only close the circuit for the magnet 30 but also print and discharge tape 4, which tape in turn will initially form a loop under the roller 5 of the lever 6 thereby to close the circuit for the motor |3 whereupon the motor II will operate to actuate the tape puller 9 to draw the tape across the light aperture of the extension 8.

The circuit for the lamp 20 is preferably also a connected in parallel with the circuit of the lamps 24 mounted in the casing 25. In the present instance, the lead 45 is connected to the common lead 5| of the lamps 24 and the! lead 42 is connected to the main lead 52 of the relays 53 of the photo-electric cells 22. There is provided an individual relay system 53 for each photo-electricv cell connected by a pair of leads 54 and 55. Each relay system 53 is in turn connected by a lead 55 with one of the lamps 24. Each of the lamps 24 r in turn is connected by a lead 57 with the main lead 5|.

The relay 53, see Fig. 2, consists essentially of a mounted to receive the winding 60 connected with the leads 54 and 55 of a photo-electric cell 22. Pivotally connected to the upright SI of the bracket 58, there is provided the arm 52 constituting an armature which is normally maintained.

in raised position by the spring 53 connected to a suitable abutment 64.

The lever 62 not only constitutes an armature but also a conductor having one end thereof formed into a contact to cooperate with the contact 65 of the lead 66 connected to the main lead 52. The arm 62 is furthermore connected by the lead 56 to a lamp 24 and the lamp 24 as aforesaid is connected by the lead 51 with the main lead 5| As aforesaid, the bank of photo-electric cells 22 is preferably mounted in a housing 23 p051,- tioned to receive the light rays from the aperture of the extension 8.

Furthermore, the photo-electric cells 22 are of the type which are sensitive to light rays so that the current of each cell 22 set up by the same, in the present instance energizes a winding 60 when the light rays pass to such cell.

In the present instance, the printed markings on the tape are used to interrupt the passage of the light rays from the lamp 2!) to the cells 22. In other words, the tape 4 passing across the light aperture of the extension 8 will intercept all of the light rays directed at such light aperture by the lamp 20. The tape 4 consisting of a transparent or translucent material willpermit the light rays to pass through the same onto the cells 22 Except when the tape is marked by printed mat- It is of course understood that the ink selected for the printer when transferred onto the tape will constitute a light interrupting device. In this way, as the tape 4 with its printed characters passesacross the light aperture of the extension 8, it will allow certain light rays to pass therethrough onto the cells 22 and interrupt other light rays corresponding to the characters or markings on the tape.

If the marking on the tape happens to be the letter E, see the darkened portion 61 at the right hand end of the housing 23, it will interrupt the light rays to a group of cells 22 corresponding to the section of. the letterE as indicated by the darkened portion 61 and thereby interrupt the excitation of such cells 22 when the armatures 62 associated with such cells will be urged by the springs 63 to engage the contacts 65 iii turn to close the circuits for a group of lamps, see the lamps 24 corresponding in position to reproduce the outline of theletter E. In this way, a moving message consisting of illuminated letters may be formed by the lamps 24 corresponding to the message printed on the tape 4. It will also appear from the foregoing that by this system, a message can be broadcast by an illuminated sign from a remote sending station.

The sending station or transmitting system may have an endless tape on which the master is impressed or may have any other suitable means, such for instance as a perforated tape 68 cooperating with a tape transmitter 69 connected by the electric conductors I and H with the main leads I2 and I3 of the transmitting system, which main leads l2 and I3 in turn may be connected to the main carrying leads l4 and 15 respectively which in turnmay be connected to a number of receiving stations located in widely scattered places, such as Philadelphia, New York, Chicago and San Francisco as indicated in Fig. 6, the receiving stations at such locatipns be.-

' obvious since a message can thus be transmitted or broadcast to a noisy crowd or at great distances removed from the receiving station, as for instance to vessels out at sea or aeroplanes as indicated in Fig. 5. i

From the foregoing, it will thus appear the. when a message is transmitted to a printer I, the printer in turn will .reproduce a master oi. the message so printed, in the present instance, by producing printed characters on the tape andthis master will'then be drawn across the light aperture interposed between a source of light, such as the lamp 20 and a light sensitive mechanism, such as the bank of. photo-electric cells 22 to silhouette, project or the like an image or images of the printed characters on the tape onto said light sensitive mechanism. The cur-. rent 0! the silhouetted cells will become interrupted in turn to permit the armatures 62 of the electric lights 24 connected thereto to establish the current of such connected lamps and the current of all of the remaining cells 22 receiving light from the source of light 20 will be established, to attract the armatures 82 bi the lights ll connected therewith and thereby the current to such lights in turn interrupted.

It will of course also be obvious from the 'foregoing that a dark room' may or may not be used according to the character of the light rays directed by the source of light and the character of the light sensitive mechanism, and according to the position of the respective parts, so long as control of the light rays to the light sensitive mechanism can be effectively performed by the markings on a tape or by any other suitable light interrupting device.

It is obvious that various changes and modifications may be made to the details of construction of the apparatus used and to the details of the system without departing from the general spirit of the invention as set forth in the appended claims.

I-claim:

'1. In a message transmitting system, the combination with a bank of electric lights included in normally closed circuits; of a light sensitive mechanism including a plurality of light sensitive units for interrupting the current to such of said electric lights which form, a dark background for the message defining light symbol or symbols; and means for energizing the units in said light sensitive mechanism corresponding to the dark background of the message to be formed consisting of a source of light, means including a light transmitting tape, a. printer for printing light interrupting characters on said tape,'a light aperture interposed between said source of light and said light sensitive mechanism, means for drawing the tape across said light aperture as it is discharged by said printer to silhouette images of the printed matter on the tape onto said light sensitive mechanism, means including a switch for establishing the electric circuit of said source of light and for setting preparatory to establishing the electric circuits of said bank of electric lights whereby the bank of lights will be dark ,when the printer is at rest, and means including a relay operatively associated with said printer for closing said switch when the message is transmitted to said printer.

2. In a message transmitting system, the combination with a plurality of electric lamp circuits, each electric lamp circuit including a secondary electric switch and an electric lamp, said electric lamps being positioned to form a compact bank, of a plurality of light sensitive circuits, each light sensitive circuit associated with one of said electric lamp circuits and including a light sensitive 'unit and a. secondary relay controlling the secondary switch of its associated lamp circuit, an electric circuit including a source of light for energizing said light sensitive units, a printer including a light transmitting tape and operable to print light interrupting characters on said tape and discharge the same to passbetween said light Source and said light sensitive units, means including a main electric switch for establishing the electric circuit of said source of light and for preparing the electric circuits of said electric lamps to be established or interrupted by said light sensitive units, and means including a main relay operatively associated with said printer for closing said main electric switch when a. message is transmitted to said printer whereby the printer not only controls the electric circuit of said source of light and the electric circuits of the lamps of said bank of electric lamps but also through its tape controls the circuits of said light sensitive units and thereby the ultimate m to be formed by said bank of electric lamps.

3. Ina e transmitting system, the combination with a plurality of electric lamp circuits, each electric lamp circuit including an electric lamp, of a plurality of light sensitive circuits, each light sensitive circuit associated with one of said electric lamp circuits and including a light sensitive unit controlling its associated lamp circuit, an electric circuit including a source of light for energizing said light sensitive units, a printer including a light transmitting tape and operable to print light interrupting characters on said tape and discharge the same to pass between said light source and said light sensitive units, means including a main electric switch for establishing the electric circuit of said source of light and for preparing the electric circuits of said electric lamps to be established or interrupted by said light sensitive units, and means including a main control relay operatively associated with said printer for closing said main electric switch when a message is transmitted to said printer whereby the printer not only controls the electric circuit of said source of light and the electric circuits of the lamps of said bank of electric lamps but also through its tape controls the circuits of said light sensitive units and thereby the ultimate message to be formed by said bank of electric'lamps.

4. In a message transmitting system, the combination with a plurality of electric lamp circuits, each electric lamp circuit including an electric lamp, of a plurality of light sensitive circuits, each light sensitive circuit associated with one of said electric lamp circuits and including a light sensitive unit controlling its associated lamp circuit, an electric circuit including a source 01 light for energizing said light sensitive units, a printer including a light transmitting tape and operable to print light interrupting characters on said tape and discharge the same to pass between said light source and said light sensitive units, means including a main electric switch for establishing the electric circuit of said source of light and for preparing the electric circuits of said electric lamps to be established or interrupted by said light sensitive units, and means operatively associated with said printer for closing said main electric.

switch when a message is transmitted to said printer whereby the printer not only controls the electric circuit of said source of' light and the electric circuits of the lamps of said bank of electric lamps but also through its tape controls the circuits of said light sensitive units and thereby the ultimate message to be formed by said bank of electric lamrs.

AUGUST D. EITZEN. 

